Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-28
! shsw, who at the same az. h.d been an


sc mp--ln him.
iwn days had pa sed at Roe Cottage,
and Melanie had not received q letter
from Montague Llnsdale, who, she
feared, must have written to her old ed-
dress, when she and her friend AMY, and
her TWO brothers, set Off for quiet little
picnic IN the woods favourite resort Of
thelr;-Dtck, who was strong and STURDY
Tor his years, alternately pushing and
dragging the wheel.chsir occupied by
Reggie, and the basket containing the
sandwiches, CAKES, sherry, tee-set, and
other requisites for their simple enter
tsinment
The July afternoon-whichw was to bring
forth far more than the now merry quar-
tette could have anticipated-was hot; so
hot indeed that the Wayside flowers low
cred their thirsty petals beneath the ra7s
OF the unclouded sun as they streamed on
the parched grass from sky, blue and
serene, while the dusty roads, the hedge
rows ard copses seemed to culver and vi
brate in heat and light.
Guided by Dick, who had already made
himself master of all the new locality.
they reached cool, shaded and seeming.
ly, by the crop of grass that grew up5n
49, PehA"oJj q pS4iN
lere, where the rays of the sun failed to
penetrate, so thick were the interviewer
branches of the oaks and elms overhead.
On both sides OF the narrow wsy rose
abrupt and grassy banks, studded with
brlghl-nued wild flowers, huge yellow
eyed and white fr!ngei marguerites, the
pink geranium and convolvulus, ming
ling with meadow-sweet, ard ovarhung
by great and bushY hedges that seemed
never to have known the Woodman's
shears.
A messy and decayed gate barred farth-
er progress into deep and silent thicket
that lay beyond. a little runnel of clear
water dubbed under the long leaved
weeds that grew thereby. 1t seemed lust
the spot whereon to pitch their little
camp, and light a fire to boil their little
tea-kettle; though 3 large white board.
newly painted, standing wildly out amid
the general greenery, and nailed to beech,
bore, in black letters, the ominous warn
ing
"Private path. Trespassers in these
woods will be prosecuted. All dogs found
within this enclosure will be shot"
"What are trespassers IN this wild
placer" asked Amy Brendon, gazing up
wards ct the board.
"People such as US, Of course" said
Dick.
"An unpleasant notice." remarked Ne
LAME, pausing in the act of drawing the
gloves Off her white and slender hands.
"Oh, don't mind 1t, we are on the right
side of that old gate yet," said Reginald
Talbot.
"The keeper and proprietor are
couple of surly old beasts-Arsus and
Cerberus com bined-regular cads," said
Dick, viciOusly, as he had slready "come
to grief" with them.in his rambles.
1.-The cad is s man of title" said his
brother.
"What of that? Even king may be
csd," said Dick.
"And what Is the name?" asked Mela-
ME.
"Sir Brisco Braybrooke."
Melsnie felt herself grow pale, while
her heart palpitated, but not with pleas
ure certainly.
'iAnd are these Ravensbourne woods"
she asked, after pause.
eyes"
"Hesvens. Is OURS Rose Cottage SO
close to them?"
"Yes-a hedge only divides our lands
from those of the aggressive baronet,"
said Dick, grandiously, Is he deposited an
armful of dry sticks, and proceeded to
light fire, deity arranging couple of
stones Whereon to poise the kettle, with
a skill that Reginald said reminded him
of his shipmates up the Nile; but ere Me-
lsnie could speak again, and while Amy,
with busy little hands, was unpacking the
luncheon basket and arranging the tea
cups
ooh, the devil" exclaimed Dick, as
sharp, vigorous, and Joyous barking an
as il defying the warning on the board,
his terrier Bingo came dsshing obstre-
perously down the lane towards them,
and having secretly followed their foot
steps through the woods, was driving be
fore him in mad career to the holes in q
bank, a couple OF white tailed rabbits.
Now, Bingo was faithful, bob tailed
and ssgaCious, but eccentric specimen Of
his breed, who accompanied Dick in all
his botanical, ornithological anu pisca-
torial rambles; and his presence on the
confines Of R.vensbourne woods was not
desirable now, being dangerous, per-
sonally, to himself, as any moment
might fad him covered" by the
gun Of that "old beast" the keeper. as
Dick called him. Not many dsys before
this, poor Bingo had come limping home,
with part of q charge of No. shot in his
off hind leg, given him by the keeper in
question, who resented bis coming in
quest of Vie rabbits and hares; hence,
Dicks heart was full of vengeance
sgainst this long gathered Official.
So busy were The two girls with their
culinary operations, and so busy, too,
was Dick in making his dog fast with q
piece o; cord to wheel of Reggie's bath
chair, that none Of the party perceived
two gentlemen who had approached them
unseen. Both were clad in light tweed
suits, with caps to correspond. Each
had cigar in his mouth, ard with their
arms resting on the top OF the low gate
referred to, they were watching the
group, one with the deepest interest and
tue other with something of amusement
An exclamation escaped Amy, and then
Melanie looked up.
"Montsgue lie Captain LoDsdale-you
here!" said she, in a low and startled
voice.
"Lonsdale, by jingo," cried Dick, with
unmixed satisfaction.
"Mel-Miss Talbot did not know
that Sir Brisco's residence was so near
yours when L came here couple of days
ago, with my friend Musgrsve-allow me
to introduce him." said Lonsdale, IN
latching the gate, and lifting his cap as he
advanced.
Melaine's too evident confusion was now
covered by Dick, whose terrier had got
loose in thicket, whence shrill squeak
wac instantly heard